Although experts agree that food is the best means of obtaining the nutrients required during pregnancy, getting all required nutrients from your diet alone is not easy.

During pregnancy, requirements for some vitamins and minerals increase far more than requirements for calories. Daily requirements for some vitamins and minerals increase as much as 50%, whereas energy needs increase by only 300 calories per day in the second and third trimesters.

As a result, you should choose foods carefully to obtain all the necessary nutrients while maintaining appropriate weight gain. Prenatal supplements are designed to make this task easier by supplying a significant portion of vitamin and mineral requirements.

Unfortunately, no. Dietary intake studies have shown that many women, regardless of socioeconomic status, have median dietary intakes below the recommended intake for many nutrients. Nutrients consumed at less-than-recommended levels include folic acid, iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and vitamins B₆, D, and E.

Multivitamin/mineral supplements can be important for ensuring that increased nutrient needs are met. Studies have shown that multivitamin/mineral supplements can decrease the incidence of low birthweight.

Wyeth Nutrition has developed MATERNA* to meet the special needs of pregnant women.

MATERNA* is a complete multivitamin/mineral supplement for use during pregnancy and lactation.

Is fortified with 1 mg of folic acid, a nutrient that is essential for healthy fetal development and the prevention of neural tube defects (NTDs), some of the most serious birth defects.

Is fortified with 60 mg of iron to help prevent anemia.

Satisfies the United States (US) Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) for many important vitamins and minerals, including the B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, and zinc.

Helps ensure adequate intake of calcium to meet fetal demands and to maintain a reserve for lactation.